The Fiscal Problem.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7923, 3 October 1904, Page 2

The Fiscal Problem.

(Per Press Association),

(By; Electric Telegraph— Copyright). LONDON, September 80. Mr John Burns, M P., has cabled to Mr Watson, leader of the Australian Labour party, as follows: "I adhere to the facts and appeal in the Labour Commoners' manifesto of August last year to the Labour representatives of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in regard to Mr Chamberlain's proposals for preferential tariffs. Whatever their application to Australian products, they undoubtedly mean a rise in the price of foodstuffs for British workers. I still believe Australian workers will not ask anything imposing this disability upon the Motherland's workers. I appeal to them to seriously bear this in mind when considering fiscal proposals of any description. Ido not share Mr Chamberlain's assumption that a preferential tariff is the only system to keep the Empire together. I would be surprised to hear that Australia's kindly feelmgs to the Motherland are based on such sordid considerations. If mutual kinship does come, it must spring from higher motives than a tariff can ever possibly supply." ■-,-.'■-.

SYDNEY, October I. '_■ Vn?, bemg inte"iewed with reference to JMessrs Burns and E. Bell's cables, Mr Watson said:—"There is no desire on .the part of Australian workars that the British people should subject themselves to any disabilities on onr behalf. In the Australian view, preferential trade i^ essential from an empire standpoint, but it is a matter for the people of Britain to decide whether or not it is to their interests to do so. It had been suggested that, the taxation in Britain might be regulated so that preferential trade would involve ne greater sacrifice on the part of the British poletariat than was at present enacted, and if that is so I cannot see why it: should not be adopted.. Loyalty to the Motherland goes without saying, but to us it seems advisable to hsve a stronger bond in the shape of reciprocal trade relations: and admitting the wisdom of leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of the British people, I deem it advisable to leave no room for misapprehension. As to the opinion, ol the Australian people I emphatically .declare they are ia favour of the preferential trade.'*